People v Knowlin

Holding The appellate court held that the defendant’s purported waiver of the right to appeal was invalid because the court failed to confirm his understanding of the written waiver and provided an unclear oral explanation. Consequently, the court reviewed the excessive sentence claim and affirmed the sentence as not excessive.

The court’s words

the record does not demonstrate that the defendant knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to appeal

2026 NY Slip Op 06140, at the official text

the court failed to confirm that the defendant understood the contents of the written appeal waiver

2026 NY Slip Op 06140, at the official text

the purported waiver of the right to appeal does not preclude appellate review of the defendant's excessive sentence claim

2026 NY Slip Op 06140, at the official text